Familiar Base Attack Bonus [Archive] - Wizards Community

Familiar Base Attack Bonus [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SgtHulka
07-31-04, 12:16 PM According to the SRD, a Magical Beast's attack bonus is equal to its hit dice. And since a Familiar is a Magical Beast, its attack bonus should also be equal to its hit dice. And according to the Player's Handbook, a Familiar's hit dice is equal to its master's. So a Familiar should have a base attack bonus equal to a fighter's of the same level as its master, correct?

I ask because the NPC sorceror on page 124 of the Dungeon Master's Guide has a Tiny Viper Snake Familiar. Its Base Atk is +0. But its kobold sorceror master is level 5, and so the Familiar should have a Base Atk of +5. Note that the Familiar is also listed as having 1 HD, but it should have (5d4+3)/2. Was this a mistake or am I misinterpreting the rules somehow?

This makes a huge difference when deciding whether or not to use a familiar to deliver touch spells. If its attack bonus is equal to a fighter's, it's well worth it to have it deliver touch spells, even though you're putting it at risk. If not, it's better off sitting safely in your pocket.
Mortepierre
08-01-04, 07:49 AM Directly from the SRD:

A familiar is a normal animal that gains new powers and becomes a magical beast when summoned to service by a sorcerer or wizard. It retains the appearance, Hit Dice, base attack bonus, base save bonuses, skills, and feats of the normal animal it once was, but it is treated as a magical beast instead of an animal for the purpose of any effect that depends on its type.

Clearer?
SgtHulka
08-01-04, 10:24 AM The part from the SRD that was confusing me was:

Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master’s character level or the familiar’s normal HD total, whichever is higher.

Which seemed like a contradiction to the passage you quoted.

But now I'm guessing the key word is "effect", as in the effect from spells or what not, i.e. a 5th level Wizard's familiar can not be effected by a Sleep spell.

Thanks for the help.
arphaxad
08-03-04, 12:54 AM page 52 of the phb under attakcs says they use masters bab from all classes. Under 15th level sorc for the familiar it says 15 hd, but still +0 bab. I would guess it's a mistake

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SgtHulka 07-31-04, 12:16 PM	According to the SRD, a Magical Beast's attack bonus is equal to its hit dice. And since a Familiar is a Magical Beast, its attack bonus should also be equal to its hit dice. And according to the Player's Handbook, a Familiar's hit dice is equal to its master's. So a Familiar should have a base attack bonus equal to a fighter's of the same level as its master, correct? I ask because the NPC sorceror on page 124 of the Dungeon Master's Guide has a Tiny Viper Snake Familiar. Its Base Atk is +0. But its kobold sorceror master is level 5, and so the Familiar should have a Base Atk of +5. Note that the Familiar is also listed as having 1 HD, but it should have (5d4+3)/2. Was this a mistake or am I misinterpreting the rules somehow? This makes a huge difference when deciding whether or not to use a familiar to deliver touch spells. If its attack bonus is equal to a fighter's, it's well worth it to have it deliver touch spells, even though you're putting it at risk. If not, it's better off sitting safely in your pocket.
Mortepierre 08-01-04, 07:49 AM	Directly from the SRD: A familiar is a normal animal that gains new powers and becomes a magical beast when summoned to service by a sorcerer or wizard. It retains the appearance, Hit Dice, base attack bonus, base save bonuses, skills, and feats of the normal animal it once was, but it is treated as a magical beast instead of an animal for the purpose of any effect that depends on its type. Clearer?
SgtHulka 08-01-04, 10:24 AM	The part from the SRD that was confusing me was: Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master’s character level or the familiar’s normal HD total, whichever is higher. Which seemed like a contradiction to the passage you quoted. But now I'm guessing the key word is "effect", as in the effect from spells or what not, i.e. a 5th level Wizard's familiar can not be effected by a Sleep spell. Thanks for the help.
arphaxad 08-03-04, 12:54 AM	page 52 of the phb under attakcs says they use masters bab from all classes. Under 15th level sorc for the familiar it says 15 hd, but still +0 bab. I would guess it's a mistake